Consider these 5 things this International Women’s Day

Happy International Women’s Day! ‘Tis a great occasion to celebrate how far we have come, and agitate for more change to see women everywhere treated with equality. In her workplace. On her payslip. On the sports field. In the classroom. For her health.

One question: how can we rally for the equality of women in all those settings, but not in the womb? The womb comes first. Equality begins in the womb.

That said, here are five things to consider this International Women’s Day. I hope they give you a clearer picture of where change is needed most.

1. Finances are one of the main reasons little women in the womb don’t get the opportunity to live.

One of the most common reasons women have abortions is because they aren’t financially stable. This is a huge issue of equality, when a pre-born child isn’t given the same chance at life as a pre-born child with parents who are financially secure.

2. In some countries, baby boys are preferred over baby girls.

It seems ludicrous, but it’s true. In places like India and China, more value is placed on male offspring than females. And this leads to all sorts of horrendous treatment, including neglect, reduced opportunities for education and early marriage to older men. This is a cultural issue.

3. Adoption is still something of a taboo.

We know that the adoption process can be difficult in Australia, and there are sad stories like those uncovered by the royal commission into forced adoptions of the ’60s and ’70s. But adoption saves lives, and it should always be considered as a viable option for women faced with an unplanned or crisis pregnancy. It is a great inequality that women are not readily given information on adoption, and encouraged to consider it. Adoption saves a child’s life, gives a troubled mother a solution, and blesses another adoptive couple with a family.

4. Many women don’t know how abortions are carried out.

Knowledge is power, as they say. We must arm ourselves with truthful information before we make any major decision. Yet, women are not being given full information on abortions when they seek it out. They are not told the procedure and what it does to the baby and mother, the risks and possible impact on physical and mental health. Equality is access to all information so that she can make an informed choice, not one that amounts to coercion.

5. The feminist movement is strangely silent when it comes to coerced abortion.

Any situation where a woman is deceived or coerced into doing something she doesn’t want to do is abhorrent. Rape is the obvious example, and our Australian community is united vehemently in its stand against sexual assault of any kind. Just look at the #metoo campaign. However, when it comes to examples of women who have been coerced into making a decision to abort their baby, against their wishes, the pro-choice lobby is silent. You should ask yourself why this is the case. Are they for women, or for abortion? True equality abhors coerced abortion as much as rape.